Why I Go So Hard for SAT Prep: A Personal Story from Dr. Shanah Grant

I’ll never forget how excited I was to start my new life in the United States. I migrated in the 10th grade—young, ambitious, and ready to take on the world. I was always a high achiever. Straight A’s, glowing report cards, and a GPA that made me proud. I was a math whiz who loved problem-solving, patterns, and logic.

So naturally, I thought I had everything I needed to succeed in the college admissions process.

But then came the SAT.

And everything changed.

Despite my academic success, I scored low on the SAT. At the time, I didn’t understand how that could be. I had done everything “right.” I had the grades. I had the work ethic. But I didn’t have the strategy.

And unfortunately, being smart wasn’t enough.

Because I didn’t know the unspoken rules of the college admissions game, I didn’t prepare properly for the test. And I paid the price—literally. I missed out on major scholarships. I watched classmates, some with lower GPAs and test scores in other areas, receive full rides to top schools.

Meanwhile, I graduated college with student loan debt. Debt that would follow me for years. Debt that made it harder to buy a home. Debt that affected my credit score, my opportunities, and my ability to build wealth.

At the time, I didn’t know that this experience wasn’t unique to me.

I later learned that so many immigrant students, first-gen students, and students of color—especially those from hardworking families—fall into this same trap. They don’t know what they don’t know. They don’t have access to the insider knowledge, the SAT prep resources, or the coaching that more privileged students often get from day one.

And that lack of knowledge?
It widens the wealth gap.

That’s why I go so hard for SAT prep now.

Because the SAT isn’t just a test.
It’s a gatekeeper. A money mover. A system.
And if we want to break generational cycles and build wealth in our communities, we have to teach our kids how to beat the system.

At Sharpe Sessions, we help students not just improve their math skills—we help them maximize their SAT score so they can qualify for life-changing scholarships, attend the schools of their dreams, and graduate debt-free.

Because we believe smart kids should be rewarded, not penalized.

We believe in giving our students the blueprint to succeed—not just academically, but financially.

This is bigger than a test.
This is about equity.
This is about access.
This is about building wealth—starting with our kids.

Don’t leave your child’s future to chance.
Be intentional. Be strategic. And let us help.

Ready to help your child win the scholarship game?
We’ve helped students raise their SAT math scores by hundreds of points—and secure spots at top schools like Duke, Cornell, GA Tech, Emory, and more.

Sign up for our SAT prep strategy session today!